Legislative Updates
Overview
Child care and early learning has enjoyed strong bipartisan support amongst lawmakers for decades.
First Five Years Fund works closely with lawmakers from across the aisle to provide regular updates on early learning and care opportunities in Congress.
Check out our full legislative tracker here and bipartisan proposals here.
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Resources
Shutdown 2025: Impact On Head Start Programs
UPDATE 11/7/25 – Day 38 of the Federal Shutdown As the shutdown continues, Head Start programs in 40+ states did not receive their scheduled funding on November 1st. This put …
STATE OF PLAY: Federal Shutdown and Child Care/Early Learning Programs
UPDATE: Day 38 of the Federal Shutdown 11/7/25 As the shutdown continues, Head Start programs in 40+ states did not receive their scheduled funding on November 1st. Head Start sites …
TOOLKIT: End the Shutdown Day of Action – October 29th
What an incredible Day of Action! Yesterday, voices nationwide united with a single message to Congress: Protect Head Start and end the shutdown. Nearly 50 organizations across the country took …
latest
updates
STATEMENT: FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling on House Markup of FY26 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
On September 2, 2025 the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY2026 funding bill, including federal funding for child care and …
STATEMENT: FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling on Senate Markup of FY26 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act to establish proposed funding levels for child care and …
FFYF’s Sarah Rittling on Child Care Tax Enhancements in the Final Reconciliation Package
Final passage of the 2025 reconciliation bill contains updates to tax credits which will help make child care more affordable for more working families with young children including: The following …
